This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about Security Deposit issues in Pennsylvania.
WHEN YOU rent a house, apartment, or mobile home, you usually have to pay a security deposit to your landlord to cover possible damage to the premises or rent still owing when you move. Pennsylvania law limits how much a landlord can charge a residential tenant for a security deposit and states when and how the deposit should be returned to you.
The amount your landlord can charge as a security deposit depends on how long you have lived in your home. During the first year you live in a place, your landlord can charge no more than two months' rent as a security deposit. After you have rented a place for more than one year, the landlord can charge no more than one month's rent as a security deposit. If your landlord charged more than that when you moved in, then your landlord must return everything above that amount. If you have lived in a place more than two years and your deposit was more than $100, there are specific rules about how landlords must handle security deposit money. More information . . .
If your rent goes up, your landlord can raise your security deposit, within the certain limits. More information . . .
If you want to get your security deposit back when you move (or are evicted), the most important thing for you to do is to give your landlord written notice of your new address. Do this just before or at the time you move. If you are not sure of your new address, give the landlord the address of a friend or relative, or a post office box, where you know you can be reached by mail. It's a good idea to send the notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you have proof that your landlord received the notice.
If you have given written notice of your new address, the law says that within 30 days after the end of the lease, your landlord must either return your entire deposit or give you a written list of any damage the landlord claims you caused and pay you the remainder of the deposit.
The law allows a landlord to keep all or part of a security deposit to cover other money you may owe under the lease, including rent. If you owe rent, the landlord can keep that money from your deposit without giving you any special written notice. If the security deposit isn't large enough to cover all the back rent or damage, your landlord can sue you for the balance.
If your landlord doesn't give you a written list of damage within 30 days, then the landlord loses the right to keep any part of your deposit and loses the right to sue you for damage to the property. If you have given your landlord your new address, in writing, and your landlord does not return the difference between your deposit and actual damage within 30 days, then you can sue in court to recover double the difference between the security deposit and the amount of damage you actually caused. Continue reading for more information on security deposits . . .
Additional information related to security deposits can be found below.
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
About Pennsylvania's Courts
Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System forms a hierarchical structure that can best be illustrated in the form of a pyramid. A description of each level of the judiciary, beginning with the minor courts is presented.
A Short History of Pennsylvania's Courts
Information on the historical underpinnings of the Pennsylvania Courts
How Judges Are Elected
Information on the basic requirements for the position of judge and information on elections, tenure and the filling of judicial vacancies.
Jury Duty in Pennsylvania
Information on serving on jury duty in the courts of Pennsylvania.
Jury Service in Pennsylvania’s State Courts for U.S. Citizens Who Speak English as a Second Language
Information on Jury Service for in Pennsylvania for citizens who speak English as a second language.
Language Access & Interpreter Program
Equal access to the courts is fundamental to the legitimacy of our system of justice and the trust and confidence of Pennsylvanians in our courts. This site provides information on the Language Access and Interpreter Services offerd by the Pennsylvania Courts for individuals who speak limited English or are deaf or hard of hearing.
Pennsylvania Judiciary's Web Application Portal
This site is the Internet Home for the Court's Electronic Services (E-Services). The Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal provides the public with access to various aspects of court information, including appellate courts, common pleas courts and magisterial district court docket sheets; common pleas courts and magisterial district court calendars; and PAePay.
Pennsylvania Justice - Understanding The Pennsylvania Courts (Video)
This is a fast-paced, animated video that describes the role and work of the courts. It details the role of the courts in a democracy, the structure of the Pennsylvania court system including jury service and how various types of cases advance through the system. (2019)
Pennsylvania's Judicial System: How the Courts Operate
Information from the Pennsylvania Courts website about the operation of the Judicial System in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania judiciary hears two types of cases: criminal cases and civil cases. A criminal charge is a violation of the criminal law and considered an offense against the community. Civil cases include every type of legal action except criminal actions, including personal injuries, contract disputes, adoptions, divorces and faulty consumer goods. Learn about the differences in how the courts operate in each type of case.
THE JUDICIAL BRANCH - Judicial System Educational Video
Video presentation highlighting the operation of Pennsylvania's Court system (17:28). (2019)
Jury Duty in Pennsylvania
Information on serving on jury duty in the courts of Pennsylvania.
Jury Service in Pennsylvania’s State Courts for U.S. Citizens Who Speak English as a Second Language
Information on Jury Service for in Pennsylvania for citizens who speak English as a second language.